Machine for fabricating upholstery springs



June 20, 1944- BRONSTIEN ET AL 2,351,559

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS Filed Aug. 4, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet l Jun 20, 1944. E. L. BRONSTIEN ET AL 2,351,659

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS Filed Aug. 4, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I gen/Z0715 W flif/o i oqu June 1944- E. L. BRONSTIEN ET AL 2,351,659

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS Filed Aug. 4 1941 6 She ts-Sheet 3 June 1944- E. L. BRONSTIEN ET AL 2,351,659

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS June 1944- E. L. BRONSTIEN ET AL 2,351,659

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS Filed Aug. 4, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 w Even/Z0719 z Mzfigj y ZZWMZ m y g June 1944- E. 1.. BRONSTIEN ET AL 2,351,659

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS Filed Aug. 4, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 13y WJWM7 AZZorrae Patented June 20, 1944 MACHINE FOR FABBICATING UPHOLSTERY SPRINGS Edward L. Bronstien and Joel G. Strandberg, St.

Paul, Minn, assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to The United States Bedding Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application August 4, 1941, Serial No. 405,380

48 Claims.

This invention relatesto improvements in machines for fabricating spring assemblies for upholstery, and has for its main object to provide a machine of that type which reverses in the main the practices or mode of operation of prior art machines and is far more efficient than the latter, and which requires attendance and operation by only a single practically unskilled operator and a minimum of physical exertion on the part of said operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type aforesaid, which can be safely operated by an unskilled operator and the operation of which can be effected with appreciable speed by a girl, after only brief instruction and few hours of practice.

Other specific objects and advantages of the invention appear in and will be readily understood from the following specification:

In the drawings which illustrate one form of our improved machine:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a front side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view on'a larger scale, with the top frame members and helical wire feeders removed to show parts otherwise concealed;

Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal section taken and mechanism at the right end of the machine;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged front elevation 01. certain of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation showing details of the row counting mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a schematic, vertical cross section illustrating certain details of the spring ejector mechanism; 7

Fig. '11 is a cross section taken on the line ll-l l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 is a front elevation showing details of the latch for the spring holders;

Fig. 13 is an end view showing said latch and the ejector cam;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line I4Hi of Fig. 3, showing details of the row counting mechanism;

- v Fig. 15 is an enlarged front elevation showing one of the spring holder dies together with a part of the supporting bar, in inverted relation to the spring-engaging or operative position of the die, and

Fig. 16 is an end view of the same inverted as in Fig. 15 and with the supporting bar shown in section.

Our machine has a main frame comprising longitudinally extending channel members l5 supported on legs IS, the members l5 supporting an upright plate ll near one end and a pair of upright plates l8 near the other end. The top of the plate I1 is connected to the upper ends of the plates I8 by spaced, parallel angle members l9. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, upholstery springs A are inserted, with their axes horizontal, one row at a time in the top of the machine, and are slightly compressed between pairs of downwardly converging guides 20 as they are inserted. One end of each of the guides 20 is secured to one of the frame members l9 and the other end resiliently engages the inner faces of a series of spring holding dies 2|. The lower periphery of each spring A passes into engagement with grooves formed in one of the dies 2|, as more fully hereinafter described.

The several dies 2! are alike and the details of one of them are shown in Figs. 15 and 16. Each has a central, longitudinally extending groove or channel 22, to receive and guide a helical tie-wire B for fastening the upholstery springs together, and arcuate grooves 23 and 24 which intersect the groove 22 to receive the adjoining upholstery springs A of the successive rows to be joined together by the wire B. Additional grooves 25, one above and one below the groove 22 and extending arallel to the latter are formed in each die 2| to receive flanges of clamping bars 28 of a reciprocable plunger hereinafter described. Pairs of pins 21 and 28 project from each die 21 adjacent to the grooves 23 and 213 respectively, the pins 28 constituting stops and guides for the springs as they are inserted so that they register with the arcuate grooves and the pins 21 constituting supports for the clamping bars 26 during their movement to and from clamping position.

A horizontal row of the dies 2| is mounted on each of four bars 29 which are fastened to a pair of endless chains 30. These chains are operated on sprocket wheels 3| which are fixed on parallel shafts 32, one of these shafts being mounted directly above the other. The lower of the shafts 32 projects at the outer face of one of the end plates l8 and has a beveled gear 33 fixed thereon (Figs. 3, 4 and 6). The bars 29 are equally spaced on the chains 30 and the center to center spacing is equal to the desired spacing ofthe helical wires B in the spring assembly wherein such wires encircle'predetermined portions of the terminal coils of adjoining upholstery springs which overlap each other within the channel 22. Said portions of the springs are substantially arcuate in the instance illustrated, although the said grooves 22 and 24 may be shaped to correspond with portions of spring end coils of other shapes intended to be received in said grooves. Horizontal rows of dies 2| are also mounted on a second series of four bars 34 mounted on a pair of endless chains 35, arranged like the chains 39,

Y to be operated on sprocket wheels and shafts 35.

The rows of dies 2| on the bars 34 are disposed directly opposite those on the bars 29, as best shown in Fig. 5. A shaft 38 for operating the chains 35 has a beveled driving gear 31 at an end of the machine and two of the sprocket wheels are fixed to this shaft to drive the chains 35. Beveled pinions 39, one meshing with the gear 31 and the other with the gear 33 are fixed on a shaft 39 for operating the chains 30 and 35 in unison. The bars 29 and 34 have dovetail connections with the several dies 2| and, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, each die is fixed on its supporting bar by pins 29a, one of which projects into the central groove 25 near a side wall thereof to perform the further function of engaging the helical wires B between the convolutions thereof to assist in advancing the helicals longitudinally as they are rotated about their axes.

Extending parallel to the inner reaches of the chains 39 and 35 are series of guide plates 49 (Figs. 10 and 11). The vertical faces of these plates engage the bars 29 and 34 between the dies 2| and at the ends of the bars as the latter move downward to thereby prevent either tilting movement or movement of the dies away from the springs that are held thereby. Movement of the bars 29 and 34 away from the shafts 32 and 35 is prevented by providing fixed vertical guides 42 on the end frame member H, as shown in Figs. 3 and 11. Rigid frame members 4| extend parallel to the shafts 32 and 35 and the guide plates 49 are fixed on these members 4| which are supported at their ends on the frame plates l1 and i8. Journal bearings for the several shafts 32 and 35 project inward from the end frame plates l1 and I8. The gearing between the driving shaft 39 and the chains 35 and 35 is such that one revolution of the shaft 39 advances the chains one-quarter of their length and carries a row of holding dies on a bar 29 and another row on a bar 34 from a spring receiving position downward to a holding posi tion (seeFig 5) while other rows of dies are moved in from above to receive another row of upholstery springs from the top of the machine.

At the front of the machine the shaft 39 projects and has a manually operable crank 43 mounted thereon for turning the shaft and operating the chains 39 and 35. Mechanism is provided for stopping the shaft 39 after each revolution with the dies in proper position. This mechanism comprises the latch best shown in Figs. 6, '1, 12 and 13. Fixed on the shaft 38 is a, wheel 44 having a notch 45 to receive a dog 45 supported on a pin 41 and arranged to be actuated by a rod 48 and spring 54. The rod 48 has an offset to clear the shaft 39 and extends upward through and above a guide plate 49 which is slotted to permit movement of the rod to and from the crank 43 (Fig. 3). A beveled end 59 of the rod 48 is adapted to be engaged by the crank 43 to move the rod out of the path of the crank as the latter is returned to its upright position at the end of a revolution. A spring 5| (Fig. 6) is arranged to urge the rod toward its projecting position, one end of the spring being connected to the rod 48 and the other end to a pin 52. This pin is fixed in the guide plate 48 and projects from the top thereof where it engages the rod 45 to prevent swiveling movement of the latter in the plate 49 when the end 50 is struck by the crank 43 in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 7. v

To free the dog 45 from the notch 45 in the wheel 44 the handle of crank 43 is moved slightly in a counter-clockwise direction from the upright position shown in Fig. '1. This turns the rod 48 in the bracket 49 away from the pin 52 and causes the lower end portion of said rod to disengage the dog 45 from the notch 45. An elongated slot 53 (Fig. 12) is formed in the dog 45 to engage the pin 41 and allow limited movement of the dog tangentially relative to the wheel 44. The spring 54 is arranged to urge the dog 45 toward the periphery of the wheel 44 and to raise the dog to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 12 when not in engagement with the notch 45. Bythis arrangement the dog 45 is prevented from re-entering the notch 45 immediately after the rod 48 has disengaged it from the notch. When the operator has freed the shaft 39 by slight backward movement of the crank 43, this crank is turned clockwise one complete revolution to thereby advance the rows of spring holding dies 2| one step in the cycle of opera-' tion. The movement is stopped with precision by the dog 45 entering the notch 45 as the end of the rod 48 is sprung out of the path of the crank-by engagement of the crank with the beveled end 55 of said rod. The chains 35 and 35 remain stationary with one row of dies 2| on the chain 30 directly opposite a row of like dies on the chain 35 and in registry with horizontally extending clamping bars 25.

The bars 25 clamp successive rows of the upholstery springs in pairs of the dies 2| while suc- 4 cessive pairs of the helical springs B are spun or woven into position to connect the springs. These clamping bars 25 extend in parallel relation to each other for the entire length of the rows of upholstery springs to be joined together and are moved longitudinally to and fromclamping position through an opening |1a in the end plate l1 (Figs. 4 and 11). Provison is made for actuating the bars 25 to and from the dies 2|. For this purpose pairs of toggle links 55 connect the bars 25 to a reciprocable bar or plunger 55 movable midway between the uppermost pair of opposed rows of dies 2| assembly of clamping bars and bar 55 is movable by a link 51 and levers 59 longitudinally to and from operative position (Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 8). The link 51 is joined at its outer end to a lug 59 projecting from an endless chain 55 and this chain is operated on sprocket wheels 8| and 82 so that its upper reach extends horizontally between frame members 53 which extend horizontally from the end frame plate |1, being supported by oblique bracket bars 530.

4 Pairs of rollers 54 (Fig. 8) are mounted on the front of the machine. By oscillating this lever in one direction the clamping bars 28 are moved from their retracted position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to their clamping position shown in Figs. 3. 4' and 5.

The pull of the chain 88 is transmitted from the link 51 to one end of the levers 58 which are identical with each other and mounted one above and the other below the central bar or plunger 58. A pin (Fig. 3) connects the levers 58 to the bar 58 and the ends of the levers remote from the link 51 are pivotally connected to one of the clamping bars 29. A pin 1| projects upward 'from each of the bars 28 to engage a cam slot 12 formed in a horizontally extending bracket 73 which is mounted on the outer face of the end frame member I]. The inner ends of the cam slots 12 act as stops to limit longitudinal inward movement of the clamping bars andcause the bars .28 to be. separated by action of the toggle links. 55 responsively to further inward movement of the plunger 55 sufliciently to perform their clamping function upon reaching the end of the stroke toward the right as seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. A latch member I8 is pivotally mounted on the top of one of the bars 28 and is arranged to engage a pin projecting from the other bar to hold these clamping bars in laterally retracted positions during the greater part of thestroke to and from operative position. The latch member 14 is arranged to strike the end of the bracket 18 to disengage the pin 15 as the bars 28 approach the inward limit of their movement and before they attain their clamping position. One or more springs connecting the bars 28 crosswise and tending to draw them together may be substituted for the latch members 18 and 15.

As best shown in Figs. 5 and 8, each of the bars 26 is formed with a pair of longitudinal flanges 16 which fit into the longitudinal grooves in the holding dies 2| to clamp the upholstery s rings in the intersecting grooves 23 and 24. Projecting from the leading edge of each of the holding dies 2| is a spring finger 11 which is curved forward and toward the chain to pass out from the lower end of the aligned guide 20 and to form a continuation of the latter in guiding the upper peripheries of the successive upholstery springs A into the arcuate grooves 23 of the die 2i on which the finger I1 is mounted. These spring fingers 11 prevent the upholstery springs from catching on or engaging improperly with the leading edges-of the dies.

Power driven mechanism of any conventional type may be provided for feeding the helical wires B longitudinally and rotating them about their axis to cause them to embrace the adjoining or overlapped portions of their end coils of the upholstery springs projecting into the channels 22. The machine illustrated has mechanism of this character driven by an electric motor 18 and belt I9 under control of an electric switch having a handle 88 conveniently located within easy reach of the machine operator. Two of the feeding mechanisms are driven from the motor 18, the housings 8| of these mechanisms having openings 82 to receive the helical wires respectively.

The openings 82 are disposed in horizontal alignment with the rows of grooves 22 in the opposed dies 2| when the latter are in their positions for clamping engagement with the bars 26.

To eject the rows of upholstery springs from the lower rows of dies 2|, series of arms 93 and 88 are arranged as best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 10. The arms 88 project upward from andare fixed on a shaft 88 and the arms 84 are similarly arranged and supported on a shaft 88. The upper ends of the several arms are disposed between and at the ends of the dies 2|, the inner smooth faces constituting guides for downward movement of the spring assembly. A crank arm 81 projects from the shaft 88 and another and somewhat longer arm 88 is fixed on the shaft 85. These arms are connected together for limited movement in. unison by a bolt 89 (Figs. 4, 6 and 10). Fastened to an end of the arm 88 and extending upward. is an arm 99 having a roller 9| mounted on its upper end portion for engagement with the peripher of a cam 92 which is fixed on the shaft 89. The roller 9| is held against the cam by a spring 98 connecting the arm 98 to 'the frame of the machine. When the shaft 89 is rotated the cam 92 and spring 93, through the connections just described, actuate the ejector arms 83 and 84 from the full line position' to the dotted line position shown in 10 and back to the full line position. The arms 83 and 84 are thus caused to compress the successive rows of upholstery springs and to free them from the die grooves and pins 21 and 28 of the lower rows of dies as the latter are moved downward and away from the springs.- The spring assembly continues downward and is discharged from the bottom of the machine upon an apron I88.

To keep the operator informed of the number of rows of springs that have been assembled for a unit, the counting mechanism best illustrated in Figs. 4, 9 and 14 is provided. This counting mechanism has a dial 94 and indicator hand 95. the latter being fixed on a shaft 96 which is revoluble in a supporting bracket 97. At the back of the bracket a star wheel 98 is mounted on the shaft 98 to be turned by a finger 99 fixed on an end of the shaft 39. The .star wheel 98 has notches equal in number to the numbered division marks on the dial 94 and this corresponds to the maximum number of rows of springs which are to be fabricatedas a unit.

To assemble a group of the upholstery springs A, the operation is started with the clamping bars 26 withdrawn to the position'indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, leaving the space between the rows of dies 2| open and the parts of the machine stationary. The operator inserts the fir'st row of springs A by thrusting them down between the guides 28 until the lower arcuate portions of their end coils snap into the arcuate grooves 24 of the several dies 2| at both ends of each spring (Figs. 4 and 5). The stop pins 28 facilitate this operation because they are disposed substantiall tangentially Of said grooves and thus guide the pre determined end coil portions of the springs thereirito. when a complete row has been inserted, the operator swings the lever 59 to the right as seen in Fig. 2. This moves the clamping bars 26 totheir position indicated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the bars being spread apart and seated in the dies 2| by the action of the toggle links 55 and pins ll entering the cam slots I2 while the latch member I8 is disengaged from the pin to'permit separation of the bars 25. At the end of this operation theribs 15 on the bars 25 securely clamp the lower peripheries of the several springs A in the die grooves 29 with uniform segments of the peripheries projecting into the longitudinal grooves 22 in the dies, the several grooves 22 of each row of dies being aligned from end to end of the machine with one of the openings 82 in the helical wire. feeding mechanism. The operator now inserts an end of a helical wire B in one of the openings 82 and then starts the motor 18 by actuating the switch handle 80. The feeding mechanism drives the wire B longitudinally of its axis and also rotates it about its axis in the appropriate direction to cause the convolutions of the wire to embrace the segments of the springs A in each of the grooves 22 with a uniform number of turns. It will be understood that the wires B have been cut previously to uniperipheries of the upholstery springs of the first row together for both the top and bottom margins of the spring unit to be assembled.

The next operation is to withdraw the plunger comprising the clamping bars 26 by swinging the lever 69 back to the left as shown in Fig. 2. This lever, acting through the crank 68, toothed rack 61 and pinion 66 on the shaft 85, operates the chain SI), and the latter being connected by the lug 59, link 51 and lever 58 to the plunger 56, first withdraws 'the pins H from the cam slots 12 while the toggle links 55 actuated by the center bar 56 withdraw the clamping'bars 26 from all of theoppositely disposed dies 2|. Continued movement of the chain 60 removes the plunger assembly to the retracted position on the frame members 63 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Now the crank 43 is turned one complete revolution and is locked in its upright position to thereby carry the first row of upholstery springs from the initial position downward one step while a second pair of rows of the dies 2 is carried inward from above by the chains 30 and to bring these rows of dies into registry with the clamping bars 26. As this second series of dies is moved into position the upper peripheries of the first row of upholstery springs are caught in the arcuate grooves 23 of the several dies, being guided by the fingers I! and confined by pins 21. This occurs as the second set of dies come to rest.

- Now a second row of springs A is placed between the guides 20, each spring being pressed down to snap into an arcuate groove 2|. The lower peripheries of the springs of the second row abutagainst the upper peripheries of those of the preto connect the lower peripheries of the springs of the secondrow to each other and to the'upper peripheries of the springs of the first row. The clamping bars 26 are again withdrawn, and the crank 43 is again operated to advance the assembled springs another step downward. The operationsabo've described are repeated until a complete spring unit has been fabricated and is finally discharged downward over the apron I00, shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

During each revolution of the crank 39 the ejector arms 83 and 84 are operated to disengage the springs and their connecting helicals from the lower rows of dies 2| and the counter mechanism operates to advance the hand 95 one divislon on the dial 94. Where the number of divisions is equal to the number of rows of springs required for a unit plus one, the hand reaches its zero indicating position automatically for the commencement of the operations for each succeeding spring unit assembly.

It will be observed, of course, that the upholstery springs employed are of the conventional hour-glass knotted. type, the terminal coils of which are of appreciably larger diameter than the intermediate coils. It is this difierence in diameter that allows ample space for the passage of the plunger 56 and clamping bars 28 into free spaces between the intermediate coils of the springs of a pair of rows thereof, that have their terminals engaged in the grooves of the dies oi! the uppermost row of the latter.

Because of the accurate positioning of the predetermined spring end portions projecting to the guide-channels 22, the number of coils of the tie-wires encircling said portions is rendered uniform and thus the axes of the upholstery springs of the assembly become quite accurately aligned with each other both longitudinally and transversely of the same.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for fabricating upholstery springs comprising, two series of parallel rows of spring holding dies, the dies of one series being disposed opposite those of the other series to engage opposite end coils respectively, of the springs, means for moving both rows of dies to and from a spring receiving position, clamping means movable between the opposing rows of dies to grip the springs therein, guides for spring connecting members in alignment with portions of the end coils of the springs engaged in said dies and means for feeding spring coupling members through said guides to couple said portions of the springs engaged by said dies and clamping means.

2. The machine according to claim 1 in which said guides comprise passages formed in the dies and having mouths opposed and adapted to be closed by the clamping means.

3. The machine according to claim 1 in which each die is formed with arcuate grooves arranged to receive arcuate portions of adjoining end coils of a pair of springs.

4. The machine according to claim 1 in which each die is formed with arcuate grooves arranged to receive segments of the adjoining spring peripheries and a straight groove intersecting said arcuate grooves and constituting a portion of a guide for one of the spring connecting members.

5. The machine according to claim 1 in which each die has a pair of arcuate grooves each arranged to receive and confine a portion of a spring end coil and spaced members projecting from said die adjacent to said groove for engagement with the said portions of the springs for guiding the said end-coil portions into said grooves.

6. The machine according to claim 1 in which said clamping means comprise parallel bars and means for separating said bars to grip the springs in the dies.

7. The machine according to claim 1 in which the several dies are formed with recesses and said clamping means comprise separable members each formed with projections to grip the springs in said recesses.

8. A machine for fabricating upholstery springs comprising, two series of parallel rows of spring holding dies, the dies of one series being disposed opposite those of the other series to engage opposite ends respectively of the springs and each die'being adapted to confine portions of end coils" of two adjoining springs. means for moving both rows of dies to and from a spring receiving position, clamping means movable between the opposing rows of dies to grip thespringstherein, guides for spring connecting members in registry with the adjoining end-coil portions of springs in said dies, and means for feeding spring connecting members through said guidesto couple said portions of pairs of the springs held by said dies and clamping means.

9. The machine according to claim 8 in which said guides comprise passages formed in the dies and having mouths opposed to and adapted to be closedby the clamping means.

10. The machine according to claim 8 in which said clamping means comprise a pair of parallel bars movable in direction parallel with the said guides to and from clamping position between the rows of springs in said dies, and means for separating said bars to causethe same to grip the springs in said dies.

11. A machine for fabricating upholstery springs comprising, two series of parallel rows of spring holding dies, the dies of one series being disposed opposite those of the other series to engage opposite end-coils respectively, of the springs, rotary means supporting each series of said dies, clamping means movable between the opposed rows of dies to grip the springs therein,

guides for helical wires in registry with the adjoining portions of end-coils of springs engaged in said dies, means for feeding helical wires through said guides to couple end-coil portions of the springs engaged by said dies and clamping means, and means for operating said rotary means simultaneously to present rows of dies successively into registry with said clamping means. p

. 12. The machine according to claim 11 in which said rotary means each includesa pair of parallel, horizontal shafts, one mounted above the other and extending parallel to the rows of dies.

13. A machine for fabricating upholstery. springs comprising, two series of parallel rows of spring holding dies, the dies of one series being disposed opposite those of the, other series to engage opposite ends respectively of the springs,

conveyors supporting the respective series of dies" clamping means movable between th opposing rows of dies and in parallel relation thereto to grip the springs therein, guides for helical wires in alignment with-the peripheries ofsprings in 16. The machine according to claim 13 in which means are provided for stopping said conveyors with rows of dies in registry with said clamping means and wherein said clamping means are operable between end coil portions of springs in said dies while said conveyors are at rest in coordinate clamping position with respect to said clamping means.

1'1. The machine according to claim 13 in which the rows 01' dies extend horizontally, the conveyorssupporting the same are movable to carry the springs in engagement with the dies step by step downward from a spring receiving position at the top of the machine to a spring discharging position at the bottom thereof, the separate springs, being insertable between the 'dies at the top of the machine and the means for operating the spring clamping means and helical wire feeding means are operable while the conveyors are stationary between steps in the operation thereof.

18. A machine for fabricating upholstery spring assemblies comprising, spaced, parallel conveyors each supporting a plurality of parallel bars, a

said dies, means for feeding helical wires through said guides to coupleportions of the end-coils of the springs held by said dies and clamping means, and means for operating said conveyors simultaneously to present rows of dies successively in registry with said clamping means.

14. The machine according to claim 13 in which the rows 01 dies extend. horizontally, the conveyors supporting-the same are movable to carry the springs in'engagement with the dies row of spring engaging dies on each bar, the bars on one conveyor being disposed opposite those on the other and both conveyors being operable to move the bars edgewise, clamping means movable between opposing rows or dies to grip the springs therein, guides for helical tie wires in alignment with portions of the end-coils of springs held in said dies by said clamping means,

means for feeding helical tie Wires through said,

guides to couple the said portions of springs held by said dies and clamping means, means for operating said conveyors simultaneously and in.- termittently to present rows of dies successively in registry with said clamping means, and means for disengaging. the coupled springs from said dies.

.19. A machine for fabricating upholstery spring-assemblies comprising, a pair'of horizontally spaced, endless conveyors each supporting a plurality of parallel horizontal bars for vertical movement, 'edgewise, said conveyors including interconnected links disposed in spaced pardie grooves,'means for feeding helical tiewires through said guides to couple springs held between opposing rows of dies, spring clamping bars movable longitudinally between uppermost opposed rows of dies, means for separating said downward and the springs are insertable between the dies at the top of the machine.

, 15. The machine according to claim 13 in which each of the conveyors comprises endlessch'ains having mounted thereon a series, of parallel bars for supporting the respective rows of dies and whereinthe respective conveyorshave spaced parallel links arranged to present successively a plurality of rows or dies in spring cartying positions.

bars to grip the springs in said dies, mean for operating said conveyors to move the rows or dies downward simultaneously to present successively in registrywith said clamping bars, and means for disengaging the coupled springs from said "dies ata given point in theirdownward travel.

20. The machine according to claim 19 in which means are provided for stopping said conveyors with rows ofdies in registry with said clamping bars and means are provided for mov- 'ing said clamping bars to and from clamping upholstery spring spacing with dwell periods between the steps, mean for clamping'adjoining rows of upholstery springs in said dies and means for feeding helical wires into engagement I with the springs in said dies during the dwell period.

22. A machine for fabricating upholstery springs comprising two series of parallel rows of spring holding dies, the dies of one series being disposed opposite those of the other series to engage opposite ends respectively of the springs, each die being formed with a. groove arranged to receive a segment of a spring periphery, spaced stop members projecting adjacent to the outer periphery of each of said grooves to facilitate manual feeding of a spring segment into the groove, means for clamping segments of springs in opposed rows of said dies,-guldes for helical wires, and means for feeding spring connecting' members through said guides to connect rows of springs held by said dies and clamping means. 23. A machine for fabricating upholstery springs comprising two series of parallel rows of spring holding dies, the dies of one series having grooved faces disposed opposite and parallel to those of the other series to engage opposite ends respectively of the springs, each die being formed with a groove arranged to receive a segment of a spring periphery, spaced stop members projecting from said faces adjacent to the outer periphery of each of said grooves, a guide finger extending laterally of each die face and midway between the stop members thereon to coact with said stop members in directing a segment of a spring into the adjacent groove, means for clamping segments of springs in opposed rows of said dies, and means for feeding spring-connecting members to connect rows of springs held by said dies and clamping means. 24. A means for positioning the terminal coils at one end of a pair of springs for coupling thereof by a helical tie wire, which comprises a single flat-faced member equipped with a guide channel for a helical tie wire and with a pair of opposed arcuate grooves disposed upon opposite sides of said channel and communicating with the latter, each of said grooves adapted to receive an arcuate portion of a terminal coil of one of said springs, a clamping means operable to force and said last-named coil portions into said grooves thereby to position said coil portions so that parts thereof are disposed within said channel and in the path of a tie wire advanced through said channel by rotation.

member to cause a helical tie wire when rotated and advanced through said channel to encircle said predetermined coil portions, and a clamping means operable to'force said coil portions into and hold same firmly within said grooves.

26. A means for positioning and holding upholstery springs for coupling by means of a helical tie wire, comprising a bar equipped at spaced-apart points with pairs of oposed arcuate grooves and with a guide channel for a tie wire disposed midway between said grooves, the latter adapted to receive portions of terminal coils of springs of two parallel rows and arranged to cause a portion of the terminal coil of each spring engaged therein to project into said channel, and a spring clamping device associated with said bar and operable to force into and hold within said grooves predetermined portions of said terminal coils and thereby flex 25. A means for positioning the terminal coils 1 other and a helical tie wire guide channel in said the same to fit said grooves while a helical tie wire is advanced through said channel into an encircling relation to the spring portions projecting into the said channel.

27. A structure as defined in claim 26, wherein the arcuate grooves are of greater depth than the thickness of the wire of which the springs are composed and are provided with flared mouths.

28. A structure of the type defined in claim 26, wherein the arcuate grooves are intersected by channels in the bar extending parallel with said guide channel and wherein the spring clamping bar is equipped with flanges engageable in said last-named channels.

29. A structure as defined by claim 26, wherein the arcuate grooves are provided with flared mouth portions and are of greater depth than the diameter of the wire of which the springs are composed and wherein the said grooves are intersected by channels parallel with said guide channel and of the same depth as said grooves and the clamping means equipped with proiections adapted to engage and force spring portions disposed within said grooves to the bottoms of the latter and said last-named channels.

30. A structure as defined in claim 26, where in the clamping means when engaged with spring portions disposed within said grooves constitutes a closure for the guide channel associated with each pair of opposed grooves of the series.

31; A structure of the type specified comprising a pair of parallel spaced-apart bars having opposed face portions provided with tie wire guide channels and a spaced-apart series of arcuate groovesdisposed upon opposite sides of said channel and communicating therewith for the reception of predetermined portions of terminal coils at both ends of upholstery springs of two rows of the latter interposed between said bars, and a means for forcing said spring portions into and holding the same engaged in said grooves while a tie wire is passed through said 33. A structure of the type defined in claim 31,

wherein the said arcuate grooves are provided with fiared mouths and said bars are equipped with guide devices adjacent the'said grooves for causing the said terminal coil portions of inserted spring to be initially disposed over said rooves.

34. A structure of the type specified comprising a bar equipped with flat-fac d portions spaced from each other and each said portion provided with a pair of opposed grooves correspondingin shape substantially with those of predetermined portions of terminal coils of upholstery springs of two parallel rows of the latter, said grooves having flared mouth portions and each thereof communicating at two points with tie-wire guide channel of each said flatfaced portion extending parallel with said rows of springs, and clamping means operatively associated with said bar for engaging and forcing inattains the limit of its movement into the space to said grooves said predetermined spring portions and there holding the same while a tie wire is passed into encircling relation to spring portions projecting from said grooves into said guide channels.

35. A structure as defined in claim 34, wherein the said flat-faced bar portions are equipped with guide devices adjacent said grooves for primarily positioning the said terminal coil 'portions over or within said grooves.

36. A structure of the-type specified in claim 34, wherein the said grooves are intersected by grooves extending parallel with said guide channel and said clamping means include formations to engage in said intersecting channels for engaging only the portions of the springs spanning said last-named channels.

37. A machine for fabricating upholstery spring-assemblies, which includes a pair of spaced-apart conveyors each equipped with a plurality of rows of spaced-apart spring-end engaging means, each row being spaced center to center from the next adjacent row a distance equal, substantially, to the diameter of the spring ends intended to be engaged in said means, the said means of one conveyor being opposed to and spaced face to face from those of the other a distance less than the length of the said springs. and said conveyors being adapted to be moved at intervals in unison to cause said means to travel in parallel while springs are engaged therewith. said means equipped with guide channels for helical tie wires into which predetermined spring end portions of contiguous rows of springs are caused to project for coupling by said tie wires. cooperatively associated elements on said means for guiding the spring-ends into the last-named positions, and mechanism for rotatably advancing said tie wires through said channels into coupling relation to the said spring end portions while the conveyors are at rest.

38. A structure as defined in claim 37 which includes mechanism operable to force and hold the spring end portions in their predetermined relative "positions with respect to said guide channels during the passage of tie wires through the latter, and wherein said mechanism is removable from the path of travel of coupled rows of springs following the tie-wire fe eding operations.

39. A structure as defined in claim 3'7, which includes a reciprocable plunger movable into and out of space between rows of springs engaged in said means during the periods of rest of said conveyors, and which is equipped with springend engaging devices adapted to move automatically into clamping relation to the spring end portions of two rows of springs as said plunger aforesaid, thereby to force and firmly 'hold the spring end portions of-said rows in predeter-- mined relative positions with respect to said guide channels. l

40. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with a pair of rows of dies opposed to andparallel with each other and each die equipped with atie-wire guide channel and with a pair of grooves parallel with said channel and disposed upon opposite sides thereof and having bottom walls of less depth than said channels, each die being also equipped with a pair of opposed spring end portion receiving grooves intersecting said last-named groove and communicating with said channel, of a plunger reciprocable into and out of the space between the opposed rows of dies. a pair of opposed guide channel covering and spring retaining bars mounted uponsaid plunger and movable laterally toward and from said dies and equipped with parallel flanges opposed to and adapted to be projected into the grooves parallel with said channels into retaining relation to spring end portions engaged in said spring end receiving grooves, means for effecting the lateral movements of said bars, and mechanism for rotatably advancing helical tie-wiresthrough said channels while said bars are disposed in said retaining position.

41. A structure as defined in claim 40 wherein the lateral movements of the retaining bars are effected automatically as said bars approach and attain the inner limits of their movement and during the initial portion of their outward movement.

42. A structure as defined in claim 40 wherein said clamping bars are locked against lateral movement during the major portions of their inward movement and are automatically rendered free to move laterally as they approach the inner limits of their movement and wherein they are automatically forced into clamping relation to spring and portions engaged in the dies during further movement in said last-named direction .and are forced back automatically and re-lockedagainst lateral movement during an initial portion of their outward movement from between said dies.

43. A structure so defined in claim 40 wherein cam elements are disposed for engagement with said retaining bars for forcing the flanges thereof into retaining relation to spring end portions engaged in the dies as the plunger approaches the inner limit of its movement and for returning the said bars to normal position with respect to said plunger during the initial reverse movement of said plunger.

44. A structure as defined in claim 40 wherein a spring held latch engagesthe retaining bars against lateral movements during the major part of the reciprocations of the plungers and wherein the machine frame is equipped with means for automatically releasing said latch as the plunger approaches the inner limit of its movement, and wherein cam elements eilect forced outward movement in said bars into retaining position during the remainder of the inner movement of said plunger.

45. A structure as defined in claim 40 wherein a spring-held latch engages the retaining bars against lateral movements during the major part of the reciprocation of the plungers and wherein the machine frame is equippedwith means for automatically releasing said latch as the plunger approaches the inner limit of its movement, and

wherein cam elements eiiect iorced outward movement oi said bars into retaining: position during the remainder of the inner movement oi saidplunger and wherein said cam elements restore the bars to their normal positions relative to the plunger and thereby cause said 'latch to re-lock them against said lateral movements during initial outward movement of the plunger.

46. A structure as defined in claim 40, wherein the retaining bars are equipped with pins and the machine irame is equipped with a pair oi cam slots for the reception oi said pins and cooperation therewith to ei'iect movements oi said bars toward the dies as the plunger approaches the inner limit oi its movement and to eilfect return movements of said bars to normal position during the initial reverse movement of the plunger. 47. A structure as defined in claim 40, wherein the machine irame isequipped with a pair oi cam elements and the retaining bars are equipped with devices positioned ior cooperation with said cam elements to eiiect lateral movements oi said bars into and out oi said retaining relation, and

said plunger and wherein the machine irame is equipped with an obstruction disposed in the path oi said latch mechanism ior automatically eil'ecting release thereoi against the action oi said spring as said plunger approaches the inner limit oi its movemefit and at substantially the instant that said pins enter the said cam slots.

48. a structure as defined in claim 40 which includes toggle links connecting the said bars with said plunger and maintaining the same parallel therewith in all respective positions oi the same and said bars, stops disposed inEthe path oi the inner ends of said bars ior cooperation with said plunger as the latter approaches the limit oi its movement to iorce said bars into said channel covering and spring retaining position,

and which includes means cooperating with said 

